July means that the blueberry picking season is here for the Chattanooga area. And I have the perfect blueberry farm for you to check out.
Blueberry picking is a great summertime activity. The Blueberry Farm is located in LaFayette, GA making it only a thirty-minute drive from downtown Chattanooga. Continue reading to learn more about where, when, and how to enjoy this blueberry picking experience.
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When is Blueberry Season?
The Blueberry Farm opens in July for blueberry picking. They are open every day from 7AM till 8PM except on Wednesdays. With the summer heat, I suggest going first thing in the morning or later in the evening after the sun has gone down a little. When I go, I like to arrive around 9AM on a Saturday morning. The first year I went it wasn’t busy at this time and it was the end of season. But this year it was packed and the beginning of the season. The farm is large enough that I hardly saw anyone while I was picking though.
Blueberries are in season from July through August, but the actual dates depend on how the year has been. Sometimes they’ll start growing early at the beginning of July and sometimes they come in later. One year they weren’t open at all because a late, spring frost kept the trees from producing fruit. When you plan your visit, I highly suggest checking their Facebook page to verify it’s a good time to pick. You can also call or email them.
Where to Begin
When you arrive at the blueberry farm, you’ll notice the stand where there’s information about the farm and plastic bags for taking home your blueberries. If you prefer, bring your own bag or container from home to use for transporting the blueberries when you’re done. These blueberries are sold by the gallon, and you’ll find gallon-sized buckets beside the stand for your use. A hack I learned recently is to put the plastic bag inside the bucket so that when you’re done, all you have to do is remove the bag full of berries to take home and leave the empty bucket to be cleaned.
How to Pick
The first time I visited, I had never picked blueberries before. So, here’s a couple tips for you if you’re new to this as well. My friend who went with me had picked blueberries plenty of times before and gave me these pointers.
First, look for clusters of ripe berries. Blueberries often grow in clusters, but they also grow at different rates. As you can see from the pictures above, we saw berries ranging from ripe and ready to green and far from ready. Since blueberries are so small, it’s way more efficient to find a ripe cluster and pull all of them in one handful. You’ll end up with little stems on the berries, but you can pick them off later when you get home.
Second, look high. The trees on this farm range from young and small to mature and tall. Since this is a popular family activity, most of the lower berries will be picked through already. But the best berries are at the top of the trees where they get plenty of sun. I’ve seen people bring step ladders with them to really capture the highest berries. However, you choose to pick, be careful.
When You’re Done Picking
Payment can be made when you’re finished. They have a QR code posted at the entrance so you can pay with digital options. Or, if you choose the cash method, there’s a box on a pole up front for you to drop it off. This you-pick farm is run on a trust system. So please, be considerate and don’t abuse it!
After You Take Your Blueberries Home
The beautiful thing about blueberries is that they come naturally with self-defense. What I mean is, they have a waxy coating that protects them from insects and bacteria. The Blueberry Farm does not spray their trees with pesticides. So, you don’t have to worry about washing your blueberries from this farm. They are ready to eat right from the tree! Also, washing your blueberries will ruin their longevity and they’ll start to go bad faster.
Final Thoughts
For blueberry picking near Chattanooga, I cannot recommend this farm enough. It’s a fun summertime activity and you can easily pick a gallon within an hour. With hundreds of trees, there’s plenty to pick for the season.
Here is the exact location of The Blueberry Farm. And be sure to watch the video version of my first blueberry picking experience for a better visual.
Until next time, enjoy exploring Chatt and happy picking!
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